Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm looking at buying a particular model of an acoustic bass guitar. My main thing is from a projection point of view, I'd like to be able to keep up with my Ric acoustic. That is, if such a thing is possible without amplification. Anyway, it seems like this particular model comes in several wood combinations and since it's impossible for me to chase them all down to AB them, I thought maybe I could open up the conversation here.

Here's what I've seen -

1 - Solid Sitka spruce top,Laminated bubinga back & sides

2 - Western Red Cedar Top,Mahogany Back and Sides

3 - Sitka Spruce Top,Mahogany Back and Sides

4 - Solid western red cedar top,Rosewood laminate back and sides

From my perspective, any ABG with a dreadnought size body will not be up to the task if there is any background noise (audience, for example); the kind of wood it is made of won't make much of a difference, except in how it looks to you. I have played a few ABGs and the tone is more midbass & treble than bass, as usual, YMMV. I bought my Rick Turner because I figured, if you have to plug in anyway, why not get one that won't feedback if you turn it up much.

Well the thing is this, the bass will mostly be used unplugged. Just jamming in the house, or in the park etc.

Find an Ernie Ball Earthwood ABG.

Looks like the size of a house. Probably costs the price of a house too

jps wrote:Find an Ernie Ball Earthwood ABG.

+1 I tried one. It was nice even without plugging in.

I think the bass frequency and projection will depend more on the body size than the material- the bigger the better (the bass frequency sine wave is large). That's why stand up basses are so large, and woofers are bigger than tweeters. Get yourself a crate battery amp (google crate limo amp) to play your acoustic bass guitar anywhere you want.

jps wrote:Find an Ernie Ball Earthwood ABG.

I have one, and the projection is amazing. I didn't realize this until I heard someone else play it - it really projects the sound, you really can't tell from behind it.

marc61 wrote:Looks like the size of a house. Probably costs the price of a house too

Dunno about the price these days, but I agree on the size. When I saw myself on video playing it, my reaction was "who's that midget playing bass?"

Modern ABGs have a really nice sound amplified, but I don't find they work very well as a purely acoustic instrument.

I searched on the Earthwood. Saw someone asking $3K last year.

Had a Taylor at one time. It was huge in size and sound.

Chris my problem is I can't amp at the park. It's illegal without permit.

marc61 wrote:.....my problem is I can't amp at the park. It's illegal without permit.

Try one of these.

jps wrote:

marc61 wrote:.....my problem is I can't amp at the park. It's illegal without permit.

Try one of these.

looks like something from Monty Python cartoons

naw Jeff, I got the answer right here:

This might work too....at $8500AUS plus shipping, it comes with a custom case

Now you're getting the idea.

jps wrote:Now you're getting the idea.

Actually I'm not. With my limited budget I purchased a Breedlove. When I hit lotto, or just get back on my feet, I will ask Paul to build the true acoustic bass guitar. Personally, I feel there's too many ABGs out there that just aren't ABGs (meaning little acoustic value )